Nokia CEO Welcomes Possibility of Microsoft Surface Smartphone

In previous interviews, Nokia CEO Stephen Elop has neither denied nor confirmed the possibility of a Surface smartphone being developed by Microsoft, instead using the opportunity to maintain that Nokia would have a leg up on the competition even if that were the case. Now, it seems that Elop is welcoming the potential showdown.

When asked about whether or not a Windows Phone 8 device from Microsoft would be welcomed or seen as competition during an investor call today, Elop stated, “It’s certainly a stimulant to the ecosystem.”

Some might see the release of a Microsoft Surface phone as a conflict, since Nokia has completely hedged its bets on Windows Phone, and would therefore be in direct competition with the very company that exclusively supplies the OS for its phones. But Elop played down the idea of the possible scenario causing any major clashes, saying that essentially, Microsoft wouldn’t be different than any other competitor that releases Windows Phone 8 devices.

“We’re encouraging of HTC and Samsung and Microsoft or whomever to have devices in the market and to be making whatever investments that help spur the ecosystem on.”